Hydraulic control for fuel selector valves



Sept. 6, 1949. I H. E. HULL 2,481,426

HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR FUEL sELEc'mIi VALVES Filed Nov, 22, 1945 4 srleecs-sheet 1 Sept. 6, 1949. H. E. HULL 2,481,426

HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR FUEL SELECTOR VALVES Filed Nov. 22, 1943 I4..Sheets .-Sheet 2 Z6 r l m, 2,

J? J16? I J6 43 42 Hal J6? V f If I a- I 7- Q 362 20,- e\ J3 av F JZC cJJ J6 V aw Sept. 6, 1949. H. E. HULL HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR FUEL SELECTORVALVES w y m A, {pa d f O. aw w v 4 @A\ 5 J. w F Pi; H V JII if M q 1 mM J w w a N. wv a? ,w/ 7 m fifi F Filed Nov. 22, 1955 H. E. HULL mrmzwmccommon. FOR FUEL snmac'non VALVES Filed Nov. zzfiias Sept. 6, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @UQQ Nmw Patented Sept. 6, 1949 'HYDRAULIC CONTROL FORFUEL SELECTOR VALVES Henry E. "Hull, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to TheParker Appliance Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application November 22, 1943, Serial No. 511,330

This invention is a device for selectively indexing and correspondinglyadjusting a selector valve to any of'its various flow-control positions.

Very often in airplane practice, the fuel selector valve is mounted inan inaccessible place, and several universal joints and the like must beemployed in the single control shaft between 1e valve and the operatinghandle in the cockpit of the plane. This results in considerable freeplay of the'handle which is objectionable. One of the objects of thepresent invention is to overcome this diflloulty bysimplifyingthemeohanical connections in the control shaft between a selector valveand operating handle, whereby free play of the handle, and other'lostmotion is practically avoided. A f-ur therobject is'to prov-ide .aselectorvalve-control means of simple construction, and which may bereadily attached to selector valves now in general use.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompany-ing drawing-s:

Figure '1 is a view showing the control device in vertical section, theselector valve controlled thereby being illustrated diagrammatically inassociation therewith.

Figure '2 is a horizontal section of the control member on *the line"2-4, Figure 1, with an illustrative 'tform 'of "a manually operatingvalve and its connections :with the control device being also shown.

Figure 3 is a vertical section :on the line 3-3,

Figure 2, and atrig'ht angles to the section .of Figure 1.

Figure 4 a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the manually:operated valve for indexing the control device.

Figures 5 and "6 are detail sectional views i1 lus'trati-ng a modifiedterm the cont-r01 device.

Figure "-7 is a sectional view illustratin another modified iorm 0f theinvention.

Referring more particularly to Figures '1, .2. 3 and SV designates aselector control valve which is diagrammatically illustrated, and maybeof any form nowin common use characterized by a moraine valve memberwhich is actuated by means of a rotative valve stem S. In thisconnection, it (is ito be understood that although the invention will hehereinafter described .as applied to the duel control system of ;anairplane, it is not intended to innit the invention in this particular,because obviously the specific 0f the -select-or valve is immaterial.

in the tom :of the invention disclosed by the figures above mentioned, acasing \C o a fluid.

4 Claims. (Cl. 121-41) pressure motor is provided, the same comprising aring-shaped casing l0, having a plurality of vent ports arrangedcircumierentially thereof. Said ports correspond in number and inspacing to the positions to which the fuel selector valve must beadjusted. Four vent ports ill 11" ii and H are shown for purposes ofillustration. There is also a fluid pressure port F. Said casing has acylindrical bore. therethrough which is closed at its ends by capmembers 12 and It to provide a closed pressure chamber 14, therebyproviding a cylindrical pressure chamber. The casing C is preferablyrigidly attached to the Leas.- ing of the selector valve 'SV hy meansofa plurality of studs Hand spacer tubes idyas shown.

Rotatively mounted within the chamber M is an axially disposed, tubularvalve-actuator shaft 253, the same being mounted in the cap members andjournalled at none'end in .a needle hearing "2! in the :cap l2, theother 'end of the shaft being passed through a stuffing box 22 of anysuitable character. Said shaft 20 is provided with a longitudinallydisposed rectangular :slot 23 intermediate of its ends. flat'Valveeactuating vane 24 is provided with a tapered inner end 25, whichis extended into said slot in such manner, that the vane will be causedto travel in an arcuate path when the shaft 20 is -rotated. The outerend of said vane engages the inner surface of casing II], and thisengagement is yieldingly maintained by means of-spring pressed plun'gers26 having tapered ends 26 which coact with taperecl surfaces 25 0f thevane :to urge the iatter radially outward. It will be noted that theplungers 26 are reciprocatively mounted within the shaft 20, one spring26 being 'abutted against the cap [-2, the-other spring 26 beinga'butted against a closed end of the shaft 20. The shaft 2c isoperative'ly connected to the fuel selector valve stem S by means of ayoke driver 21, fixed to the shaft, and a yoke 28,.fixed to the selectorvalve stem. As shown, the-stufiin'g box 22 comprises a gland and apairof -O ring type seals.

Mounted within the casing C is a sector-like abutment H, which is fixedin position by means of pins 3!) which pass through the -bulkhead andare anchored in the .cap members 12 and [IS-see Figure .3. The bulkheadhas an inlet .passage 3! communicating with the -fluid pressure port F,and is provided with .a coupling member adapted to be connected with anysuitable source of .fluid pressure. Said inlet passage 3-! is providedwith two discharge branches .32, 3.3 respectively, which are positionedto v discharge two independent fluid pressure streams into the pressurechamber, and on opposite sides of the vane 24, so as to normallymaintain a uniform fluid pressure within the chamber [4 while ventingthereof is prevented through the vent ports, and thereby hold the vane24 in stationary position.

Leading from the'respective vent ports I l 1 l H and II are outlet pipes36*, 36, 36 and 36 which lead to correspondingly positioned inlet ports31*, 31 3! and 3! in a valve casing V. Rotatively mounted in said casingis a plug 39, having an angularly disposed venting channel 46, onebranch of which is positioned to be selectively registered with therespective ports 31*, 31 31 and 31 its other branch being connected witha vent port 4|.

In operation, assuming that the vane 24 is in the position illustratedin Figure 2, with its outer end covering port II, and that the valve Vis positioned as shown in the same figure, it will be observed that thefluid pressure medium which is at all times enteringlthe chamber I underan approximately constant pressure, cannot pass out of any of the ventsIl Il H or ll Therefore, a balanced -pres'sure'is maintained against theopposite sides of the vane 24, so that it will not move. move the vane24 a distance of. 180, so as to impart a similar movement to' the valvestem S, the plug 39 of valve'V will be m'oved to place its exhaustbranch 40 with the port 3'! in communication with the conduit 36 leadingfrom outlet port H The effect ofithis is to' vent the chamber l4 throughsaid'port I l 'and its conduit 36 and through plug 39 to the reservoir.Thereupon, the pressure of theincoming fluid against the right hand sideof the vane24 as viewed in Figure-2, will be'gr'eater than it is on theother side, because the fluid 'will vent faster through the outlet portI l a than it can be supplied through the topmost discharge branch 32 ofthe inlet passage 3|. Thereupon, the vane 24 will move in a clockwisedirection until its outer end closes the vented port H Movement of thevane imparts a corresponding movementto the shaft S in the samedirection and to the same extent Just as soon as the vane 24 closes thevented outlet port I I the equalized pressure upon opposite sides of thevane is immediately established, and the vane will therefore remain inthis position until the valve V is again'actuated." Obviously, thearrangement is such that the vane may be caused to move to anyselected'vent port by manually moving the valve plug 39 to a 'positionwhich will vent the selected port-to the atmosphere; The operation willbe exactlythe same as'above'described and repetition therefore isconsidered unnecessary, The form 'of the invention illustrated inFigures 5 and 6 is a modifled'arrangement for quickly reestablishing thepressure balance against the vane after it has travelled the desiredpredetermined direction. In this form; the pressure chamber isconstructedas illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the manual controlvalve is substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The abutment H,however, is provided with a cylindrical bore 50, which extends acrossthe pressure inlet port F, at right anglesthereto, and communicatestherewith. The ends of said borealso open into the pressure chamber.Reciprocatively mounted within said bore is a balance shuttle valve BV,which comprises a cylindrical body 5| of approximatelythe samediameteras that of said bore, and having longitudinally spaced reduced portions52, leaving a central portion 58 of a length somewhat less than thediameter of the port F. The ends of the valve BV are of tubular form, asindicated at'54, and ports 55 extend through the tubular ends from thereduced 7 portions 52. The shuttle valve BV is maintained in a normallycentral'balanced position with respect to the port'F, by means ofsprings 56 which engage the respective ends of the valve and bearagainst the pins 34 as abutments. As previously stated, the length ofthe central portion 5| of the By this arrangement-a balanced pressureagainst Now assuming that it is desired to r the opposite sides of thevane 24 is maintained. Just as soon as the valve V is adjusted toselectively vent the chamber l4 through any one of the ports Il l I", WTor' I I the pressure on one side of the vane will be greater than theother for reasons fully described in connection' with the operation ofthe previously described form of the invention. Atthe same time thepressure'upon the same side of the shuttle'valve 5! will also be greaterso that the'latter will be shifted to close the communication betweenthe pressure inlet and the opposite branch of ,the bore 50. This reducesthe extent of pressure applied to that side of the vane 24, and thiscondition is maintained until the vane moves to cover the selectedvented opening. As soon as it tends to 'pass said last' mentionedopeningv to the slightest degree, furtherescape. of the fluid pressurethrough that opening is arrested, and the unbalancing pressure againstthe shuttle'valve willbe'rectified, so. that the two springs 56 willbring the valve BV'to its normal neutral position, and immediatelyefiect balancing of the pressure on .opposite sides of'the vane 24.

Figure 7 represents a'modifled form of the control mechanism,particularly with respect to the control of the flow of pressure fluidfroma suit able source to the pressure chamber. Referring to saidfigure, the casing C is substantially the same construction as thatillustrated inthe other figures, already described, but is provided witha plurality of circumferentially'spaced ports, .four

being shown for purposes of illustration, and respective'ly marked A, B,C and D. The shaft 20* and the vane 24 are substantially the same as thecorresponding elements previously described; The abutment H locatedwithin the chamber C is not provided with the pressure fluid supplyfeatures of the previously described figures. In lieu thereof, abalanced valve casing BV is shown, the same being provided with a valvechamber 60 which is'connected to a suitable source of pressure fluidsupply by a conduit 6|. Said chambercommunicates with a crdss'bdre 62,inwhich is reciprocatively mounted a shuttle valve SV similar to thatillustrated in Figures 5 and 6, and defluid may pass from the valvechamber to either of conduits 65 and 66, respectively. The'conduit 65 isconnected with vent port A through a conduit a. The conduit 561sdonneted. with the port Sti t-81 ,426

B of the pressure-chamber by meansof apipe The yaweeasing av issupported by a basemem b'e'f M, which is provided with an' exhaustchannel 1|. Said'channel'coinniunicates with the conduit or by meansofa'pipe a so that pressure fluid maybe-vented through the p'o'rt A. Theoutlet to the conduit a is normally closed by a spring pressed poppetvalve P In a similar mannerthe exhaust conduit-Tl is'connected by meansof conduit b with pipeb, and-through the latter to the vent B. It willbe noted th'at'th'e abutment H is located betweenportsA and B. Theoutlet of conduit 17 is normally closed b y asimilar poppet valve P lh eexhaust conduit His connected with portC by means of a conduit 0,normally 1 closed-by a poppet valve P a similar eraser the-port Disconnecte d with the-exhaust channel by I means of aconduit d; which is"also normally clz'as'ed byv apoppet valve P Conduits 65'an'd 66 are alsocdnnectedwith conduits a and b, respectively.

It is to be'understood that a constant-supply of fluid under pressure isnormally maintained in the valve chamber 60,- and through conduits 65and a, and BS'an'd b to the casing C andthat all of the poppet valvesarenormally closedby their springs. It will be clear that byth-is meansa-balancedflui-d pressure is rhai-ntained ori op'posite sides'of thevane =2; Assuming that the vane M is in the position illustrated inFigure 7, a manual depression of the poppet valve P will vent thechamber C at the vent A through conduits a and a and exhaust conduit H,thereby lowering the pressure between the vane and the adjacent side ofthe abutment H At the same time, the constantly flowing pressure fluidwill travel by way of conduits 66 and b to the chamber C through vent B,on the other side of the abutment, so as to apply pressure on theadjacent side of the vane, whereupon the latter will travel in aclockwise direction until its outer end covers the port A.Simultaneously with the foregoing operation, the pressure of theincoming pressure fluid against the valve BV will force it to move in adirection to close the conduit 65, so that the incoming pressure fluidcannot interfere with the exhaust through the conduit a This conditionmaintains until the vane travels the predetermined distance to close theport A, whereupon the balancing of the pressures of the springs 64 willimmediately restore valve BV to its central or neutral position. Theeffect of this is to promptly balance the pressures applied to bothsides of the vane. If it should be desired to move the vane in the otherdirection, the extent of movement in that direction will be determinedby which of the poppet valves P, P or P is operated. Assuming that thepoppet valve P is depressed, the pressure fluid would be introduced intothe chamber C through the port A and exhausted through the port B,whereupon the vane will travel the necessary distance to Close the lastmentioned port, and the balancing valve will automatically resume itsneutral position, thereby reestablishing the pressure balance on thevane. It is believed that the effect of the depression of any one of theother poppet valves is readily understandable from What has beenpreviously described, and therefore, further detail description thereofappears to be unnecessary.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will beobserved that a Very simple mechanical connection is provided in triecontrcl shaftbetween @selector valve: ancfianoperating handle; soconstructed and arranged that-all unneeessary'play is avoided. It willalso be noted 'that the device is sensitive and-.1 accurate? Inothe'nvvords; th'e' controlliunithandle' is turned exactly-{60 3forexample;-inorderto turn the fiiel selector val ve-aprecise'ly'corresporidihg extend Another important advantage is that 'the device iscapable of" being-readily at"- tabhedto"selector valves oft'yp'es nowi'rr generaluse:

fiaving" thus explaihedthe nature oftheinvem tionand"described--an-'-op'er'ative-manner of constructing and using thesame, although without attempting to"setforthall of' theforms in whichit may-bdmade, or all cf the forms of itsuse,- what is"claiined-is=:

1. A: selector valve actuating device comprising "a normally closedannular-pressure chamber; a rota-tively; mounted v'a'l ve operatingshaft-axially disposed" within said chambcran'd" havingalongitudinal-"slot therein, a vane having a tapered end extendedinto"sa'-id* slot; thefloth'er end-qof' said vaneengaging-theperipheral-wallfof said chamber, spring pressed plungers" engaging thetapered" end of the vane so as to yieldingly maintain the Patter in.engagement with the wall of the chamber," means f or; introducing fluidunder pre'ssuieintoi said chamberion both sides of'sai'd vall, so as"tGm'aintain a} b'alall'icd plSSl'lTe upon opposite sides thereof whilesaid chamber is closed, and means for selectively venting said. chamberat any one of a plurality of preselected circumferential positions,whereby the fluid pressures upon the sides of said vane will beunbalanced and the vane will be caused to travel to the vented location.

2. A selector valve actuating device comprising a normally closedannular pressure chamber, a hollow valve-operating shaft rotativelymounted within said chamber in an axial position with respect thereto,said shaft having a longitudinal slot, a vane having a tapered endextended into said slot, the other end of the vane having slidableengagement with the peripheral wall of said chamber, spring pressedplungers located within said shaft and engaging the adjacent end of thevane, so as to yieldingly maintain the engagement of the latter withsaid Wall, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said chamberon both sides of said vane, so as to maintain balanced pressures uponopposite sides thereof while said chamber is closed, and means forselectively venting said chamber at any one of a plurality ofpreselected circumferential positions, whereby the fluid pressures uponthe sides of said vane will be unbalanced and the vane Will be caused totravel to the vented location.

3. An activating device for adjusting selector valves to pro-selectedflow positions comprising a normally closed annular chamber providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral vent portslocated to index the desired valve adjustment positions, a hollow shaftrotatively mounted within said chamber, a vane radially disposed withrespect to said shaft and free to move radially therethrough, meanswithin said shaft for applying yielding lateral pressure upon said vaneso as to maintain the outer end of the vane in engagement with theperipheral wall of the chamber in a position to close any of said ports,said vane when at rest normally occupying a position closing apre-selected vent port, a fluid pressure conduit connected with saidchamber and having means for delivering equal- 7, izedfiuid pressureinto the chamber on opposite sides of the'vane so as to hold the latterina normally stationary position, means for selectively venting saidchamber at any one of said vent openingsso as to unbalance the fluidpressures upon the sides of the vane, whereby when any selected vent isopened, other thanthe one closed by said vane, the pressures will becomeunbalanced andthe vane will be caused to travel to the vented opening,so as to shut off flow of fluid pressure through the chamber, the vanebeing .at all times free to move to any selected open vent irrespectiveof its previous position of rest.

relatively spaced end capsand an intermediate annular member rigidlyconnected toprovide a normally closed annular pressure chamber, a hollowvalve-operating shaft rotatively mounted in said end caps and positionedaxially with respect to said chamber, said shaft having a longitudinalslot therein a vane having its inner end slidingly movable within saidslot and movable with the shaft, and its other end engaging theperipheral wall of the chamber, means within said shaft for yieldinglyapplying a lateral pressure against said vane so as to maintain theengagement of the vane with said peripheral wall,

' means for introducing fluid under pressure into said chamber on bothsidesof said vane, so as 4. A selector valve actuating device comprisingto -maintain balanced pressures upon opposite sides thereof while saidchamber is closed, and

means for selectively venting said chamber at any one of a plurality ofpreselected circumferential positions, whereby the fluid pressures uponthe sides of said vane will be unbalanced and the vane will be caused totravel to the vented'location.. e

V I HENRY E. HULL. V

1 REFERENCES 01m; j I

' The following references are of recor'diin th file of this patent: T

y T -SIAT SPATENTsf Number Date

